The Different Types of Window Blinds: An Explainer

Window blinds can really make or break the interior design of a home. If you’re looking to update your home’s aesthetic, check out this guide to the different types of blinds for windows.

With so many choices for window coverings, choosing just one can get overwhelming. Window blinds are an easy and elegant way to let the light in or out and also protect your privacy.

But even with blinds, there are a lot of options. So we broke it down for you.

Here is everything you need to know about the different types of window blinds. We’ve included the materials they’re made from, which rooms they’re best for, how they work and more.

Hopefully, this guide will take out the guesswork when it comes to blinds for windows.

Blinds or Shades, What’s the Difference?

It can get confusing, but blinds are often a blanket term that means both blinds and shades. This is because they both serve the same function. However, the two are different.

Blinds have individual slats that tilt, with the use of a rod, to open and close the slats. They also can be adjusted, usually with a cord, to go up and down. All of this allows you to control the amount of light in the room.

Shades are made of one piece of material instead of individual slats. They can go up and down, but can’t be adjusted side to side.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds have vertical slats that run along a track at the top. They are designed to either open from one side or part in the middle with a rod.

Also with the rod, the vertical slats can be tilted to adjust the light and for privacy. They are most often used for patio doors and large, floor to ceiling windows.

Venetian Blinds

They have horizontal slats that are attached with either strings or strips of cloth. With the pull of the string or cord, the bottom slat is raised and presses against the slat above it, and so on.

A rod can be used to tilt the slats and allow for more or less light.

Most often Venetian blind slats are metal. The metal can come in a variety of colors, making these blind very versatile.

Wooden Blinds

Venetian blinds can be made of wood too. The type of wood you choose can add a layer of elegance to the bedroom, living room, or really anywhere.

The slats are connected with tape or fabric instead of with string.

You can customize wooden blinds by choosing the wood type, the color of the tape and the width of the slats.

Faux Wood Blinds

Faux wood blinds for windows can be a good economical choice. They look just like real wood but aren’t.

They can also be easier to clean and maintain. Just like real wood blinds, they can be customized by selecting the color of the slats, the tape color, and slat width.

Mini Blinds

Mini blinds are made of the same design and structure as Venetian blinds, but the slats are much smaller. Usually, the individual slats are no more than one inch thick.

If the slats are less than 1/2 inch, then they’re called micro blinds. This look is a matter of preference, but they can be more difficult to clean.

Pleated Blinds

Pleated blinds or shades are types of blinds that are made from one piece of material that is pleated like an accordion. Because they’re made of one piece of material, they can’t be adjusted from side to side, only up and down.

Some pleated blinds are made to be both lowered from the top or raised from the bottom. This flexibility allows you to adjust the blinds depending on where the light is coming into the room.

Pleated blinds are usually made from paper or fabric. They are often energy efficient.

Also, you can choose how much light you want to filter, depending on the thickness of the fabric you choose. They come in very thin fabric that can let in a lot of light to blackout shades. Pleated blinds are great in any room of the house.

Cellular Shades

They are also made from paper or fabric. However, instead of one piece of fabric, they are made of two pieces that are both accordion folded. Each piece of fabric is connected so that there are openings if you look at the shade from the side.

These openings help a room stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They also help keep out outside noise.

Cellular shades are super versatile because, not only can you choose the color and fabric, but they come in a variety of cell sizes.

Roman Blinds

Another popular type of window blind is roman blinds. Like pleated blinds, they are made of one piece of fabric.

As a roman shade is raised, it folds into itself. This is similar to Venetian blinds, but the accordion folds are much larger.

When raised completely, the stack of folded fabric is collected at the top of the window. So, although they are beautiful, you never have a full window view with roman blinds.

Roman blinds come in all sorts of fabrics and colors but are usually made of cotton. When lined they can make the room very dark.

One great thing about roman shades and several other types of blinds is that you can get really creative with the fabric and change the whole look of your room.